Inspiration Through Children

Written 19 June

I'm incredibly inspired, not just today, but of late.
Still in this little wee village in Austria, and I feel like I'm on top of the world.
I had no idea what to expect with these kidsters, and like always, walked in the class  this morning with the same thought to myself: to allow them guide me in helping them speak as much English as possible.

We ebbed & flowed for 5 hours together, even during breaks (although I completely crashed for an hour after school!!!), and it was marvelous.
Their exposure to English has only been half an hour per week for the last couple of years, so it's not so expansive, but I got them talking :)

I did this role, of (trying to), inspire children to communicate in English a couple of years ago, but due to timing and circumstances, I didn't continue. You know though,  I don't remember it being so rewarding back then...I suppose I've grown up some, or actually, better said, I think I've regressed ;). (I happily completed a 70-piece puzzle yesterday of fairy tale characters, which I found in my room).


It so important for me to connect with each of the kids, to shake their hands, or give high fives, to look them in the eyes, and feel their souls. I get a sense when they're not happy, for whatever reason, and offer a little extra support. With this, I've seen children go from dark to light within the blink of an eye. Like the "bad kid," who shows me his artwork, and has an expectation that I will blow him off...but when I turn around and say, "wow, that's so creative, what an imagination, cool man-and give him a high five," he's shocked, but happy and walks away smiling from cheek to cheek, but not quite knowing why..

Over and over again, I hear that our children are the next generation...I don't want to send these kids off into the world, thinking that they need to clean up our mess, and do a better job, to be smarter politicians, or business people....My simple desire/wish/hope for them is to love themselves, and to continue to enjoy "right now." Imagine a world where as we "grow up," we're just bigger versions of children-all of us....?
They, each of them, are beautiful and innocent, not yet "affected."   Lets support this for them...

Now: go on and do something you used to love to do as a child-ANYTHING!!! :)

Peace, love & light to you :)

Ramblings en route to Eisgarn, Austria..

(Written on the bus from Vienna to Eisgarn on  18 June)..

I'd agreed to this "job," only weeks ago, when I was pleasantly stranded in Prague, during the flooding.

I hadn't taught English in a while, (and still don't-I like to think that I inspire children to want to communicate in English, through games and activities), and I recieved a message asking if I could cover for someone. Why not...?

Before I'd even done the first gig, again, another urgent request came through to cover for someone over 18-20 June-again, I thought, why not? 

..me being me, and I consciously left checking out the venue to the very last minute, trusting I'd find it eventually (after failed attempts on google initially).

My procrastinating led to me getting slightly stressed out, and when I finally sat down and focused on sorting out my route, I was as good as gold. This morning I was thinking; I'm going to travel by train then subway, then bus, for two days of teaching for a total of 10 hours-the same amount of time I'm spending on travelling to and fro.

Alas, I must say, in the moment that I stopped doing the math, and reminded myself that I love adventures, the light came back :)

For the stress I'd felt, things were really falling into place. In a town where good customer service still isn't the norm, I smiled from cheek to cheek after calling a taxi to get me to the train station. Why...?
I'm not sure if she recognized my voice or if was the way that I asked for the taxi (in Slovak), but the woman on the other end answered in English, asking my name for the driver, and as always, I gave my Slovak name (Maruska). 
Whatever was going on in her world, whether it had anything to do with me at all, she passed on her cheer my way. At the end of the call, I thanked her and she wished me a lovely day, finishing with "pa pa" (kisses), something commonly said amongst friends.  Her spirit was beautiful,and touched mine...

I got to the station, hopped on the train, made my changes, to the final bus, where I was a little lost..no probs though, I'll just ask someone. 
Sure enough,  I met a mother who was traveling to the town just after where I needed to go, with her son. Both were super cool and ever so helpful, sorting me out. Only a few minutes later, we jumped on the bus together. Christine spoke to the driver, asking him if he could drop me off right in front of my BnB ( :))))) ), and Garrie and I chatted much of the way-it was really lovely. 


That all being said, you know, I consider myself to be pretty self sufficient, and surely I could have got here without asking a single person for help, but then I would have missed out on human interaction.

A couple of hours later and here I am, and extremely grateful to my new friends, who granted, I may never see again, but grateful nonetheless.

The village, even smaller than the one I sometimes live in, inhabits around 600 people, so upon arriving I decided to take a walk, despite the dark clouds and rumbling of thunder. "If it rains in this 32c heat, it'll be a pleasure!!"

Walking along with "the flower duet," playing in my mind, I heard it before I felt or saw it- the rain.... Something i I can honestly say I've not expeiemced in a long time if ever at all. To be outdoors, to hear rain hitting the ground, but not see it or feel it right away....special, no...?

.....and that's all this post was supposed to be about-singing in the rain ;) 
xx

Viva Musica, The Legend of Sitno, and the man behind it all...

You know, I never would have known about this Slovak legend, had it not been for my dear friend, Matej, who is at the heart & soul of the Viva Musica Festival, which takes place every summer throughout Bratislava, since 2004.

Matej, a well versed clarinetist himself, dreamt up the festival and brought it to fruition with the simple desire to preserve and spread classical music in today's ever so quick and changing modern times. To not only impress upon the young, but to tantalize the ears of the generations who grew up with classical music.

This years festival, commences with a grand start: "The Legend of Sitno," which will be an incredicle theatrical performance with a full orchestra and a childrens choir of 800+ students.

"Two otherwise loving, twin  brothers, Tyra & Zamir, born to the mighty Prince of Sitno, fall in love with a beautiful woman named Vesna.

Until the point when they realize that it is Vesna, whom they both love, the brothers stand strong, side by each, as though they were truly cut from the same fabric...

Unfortunately, not only do the brothers fall out with one another over their feelings towards the beautiful woman, but they come to  despise each other. As fate would have it, their egos lead them to battle one another, accidently killing Vesna, each with his own weapon, simultaneously.

It's been said that despite realizing the gravity of their actions, the brothers were cursed & condemned to reside in the mountain Sitno with their army of knights,  where they await to be awoken....to be called for, to defend their country.."

Back to classical music and my personal take on the whole project, I've had the utmost pleasure of experiencing first hand, the music come to life over the last year. Oskar's been pouring his heart into this project, which is centered around 800 children, composing music they might not otherwise experience-and from what I hear, have they ever enjoyed the process!!

And, let us not forget Peter Kollar, who also played a pivotal role. He is the man responible for the lyrics of the songs the children sing along to, which sews the whole project together, from music to performance.

When these two gentlemen, Oskar and Peter, colloborate, it's always the birth of something incredible. You only need to listen to "Ünder My Spell," to know what I'm talking about.  And thanks to Matej, he takes their passions and spreads them into the world, to all of us :).  (A kind request for MORE PLEASE!!!!!) ;) 

The Legend of Sitno, was no simple feat. As of September, 2012, the kids had been learning a new song, in preparation for the upcoming concert, on 21 June. To see them en masse, will surely be an experience second to none-children singing, smiling, being part of something big....

Having been to an orchestral rehearsal the other day, I can tell you that after many months of hearing the music being composed in our very living room, to have seen it all live, with the musicians in front of me playing their instruments, rather than imagining it all, made my heart flutter- & that was only a rehearsal!!!

5 more days til show time, and I believe this concert has already and will continue to alter lives, for so many who have been involved, with the incredible energy, love and magic flying around.

What a truly genius idea by Matej...I wonder what he's got up his sleeve for next year...?

Infinite thanks Matej, for your wonderful visions, past present and future! :))